The happiest club on earth

When McNary teachers Christian Easterly and Jamie Murphy started the Disney Club last year, Madelyn Hurst was one of the first in the door.

“I want to work for Disney when I’m older,” Hurst said. “I love everything Disney. It’s an obsession. I want to design their attractions, specifically in Disneyland. I’ve only been there three times. It’s like you’re transferred to another world; there’s a magic about it that’s undeniable. It is the happiest place on earth.”

Easterly’s love for Disney came from growing up in California and being raised by parents who met and worked at Disneyland.

The Disney Club meets every Thursday after school to watch movies and play games. They’re also raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation to help send a child to Disneyland.

“It’s a place that’s positive for the kids to hang out and have that common passion that they have,” Easterly said. “They all love Disney. There’s nothing negative about that. It’s a positive environment, a positive message.”

Murphy wasn’t at the club on Thursday, Oct. 19 because she was at Disneyland.

The students voted at the beginning of the year on their favorites with Mulan, Moana and The Lion King winning out.

Hurst said her favorites are Tangled, Frozen and Tron: Legacy. Her favorite ride at the park is Indiana Jones.

Andrea Aguilar, who joined the club to meet people who enjoyed the same thing she does, needed a minute to think about her favorite movie before answering with Big Hero 6.

“It’s a mix of futuristic and modern time and I like both of those,” she said. “It’s really fun.”

The club has given Chris Simmons the opportunity to watch Disney movies he hadn’t seen before, like Hercules.

“I don’t watch a lot at my house because every movie that I have I’ve binge watched a 100,000 times so I’m sick of them now,” Simmons said. “I’m not like one of those Disney geeks where I’ve seen everything and I can sing to every one of the songs.”

The Disney Club is having a Halloween costume party with the Hispanic Club. Students will watch The Nightmare Before Christmas and have a potluck.